I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

It was a volatile situation.

While Daniel watched tensely, Lucie let out a low sigh to calm her fury.

It was true that she had permitted Prien to order for her, and she had not specified any preferences.

‘However…’

From Lucie’s perspective, who had wanted to try the éclair Daniel had praised so highly, it was truly disappointing.

Thus, she gazed down at the mint chip ice cream with halfopen eyes.

The vivid blue-green hue gave no indication of its flavor.

If the mint chip ice cream tasted unpleasant, it would ruin her long-awaited respite.

That was undesirable, so Lucie studied the mint chip ice cream intently while Prien narrowed her eyes slightly.

‘Hmm. She doesn’t look pleased…’

The reason was easily discernible without much thought.

‘She must be displeased at having her date disrupted.’

Prien had likely intended to spend a cozy time alone with Daniel, only for an outsider to intrude, souring her mood.

The culprit was the ‘mint chip ice cream’ Prien had arbitrarily ordered, but she remained oblivious to this fact.

Well, mint chip ice cream was delicious, after all.

In Prien’s mind, mint chip ice cream was the perfect dessert, devoid of personal preferences.

Of course, there were occasional mint-haters, but they were an insignificant minority not worth considering.

‘Anyway…’

To Prien, it was unacceptable for Lucie, who seemed intent on seducing the saintly Major Daniel, whose goal was the Union’s annihilation, to be clinging to him.

While Prien personally respected Lucie’s work capabilities, this was a separate matter.

Prien knew all too well how many historical figures had suffered due to womanly issues.

Love tended to blind and cloud one’s judgment.

Thus, Prien could not stand idly by as Lucie attempted to wag her tail at Daniel.

‘If it were a normal romance, I wouldn’t intervene, but…’

Lucie was hiding something.

While others may not notice, Prien could sense the profound darkness Lucie concealed.

Unable to discern what adverse effects this darkness might have on Daniel, she remained wary.

If Lucie was attempting to seduce Daniel for some nefarious reason, it would be unforgivable.

‘I was looking forward to trying the éclair…’

In contrast, Lucie had simply wanted to taste the éclair.

After wavering, Lucie had almost asked Daniel to let her have a bite before shaking her head.

She could not make such an impolite request to her superior.

Resigning herself to the mint chip ice cream, Lucie picked up her spoon.

Taking a spoonful, her eyes inadvertently widened.

The sweet yet refreshing flavor filled her mouth, opening new horizons of taste.

Lowering her spoon, Lucie murmured quietly.

“Delicious…”

Upon hearing her, Prien initially seemed surprised before smiling genuinely.

“Second Lieutenant Lucie! You like mint?”

“Yes, I seem to.”

“If that’s the case, you should have said so sooner! I know of a few good shops in the Capital. Would you like to visit them together?”

Lucie blinked hesitantly before glancing at Daniel, as if seeking his permission.

Noticing this, Daniel raised his coffee cup and spoke.

“Do as you wish. Once we return to the Capital, headquarters will acknowledge our achievements and grant us ample rest.”

Lucie gave a small nod of understanding.

Seeing this, Daniel sipped his coffee before flashing a faint smile.

‘She’s completely taken by desserts, it seems.’

He felt a tinge of pity towards the Union.

The Lucie who had once disparaged desserts as junk food was now gone.

How must they feel, having their capable operative’s palate claimed?

‘Ideologies may be impure, but the tongue remains honest.’

As Daniel prepared to enjoy his éclair, he paused, sensing Lucie’s gaze.

She seemed to be eyeing his éclair furtively.

Well, after his lavish praise of éclairs back at the office, her curiosity was understandable.

Fully empathizing with Lucie’s sentiments, Daniel cut the éclair in half with a knife and placed a portion on a small plate, offering it to her.

Lucie regarded Daniel with a somewhat surprised expression.

“Major, this is not my portion.”

“From now on, it is. I’m already full, you see.”

“…Thank you.”

Politely accepting the plate, Lucie speared the éclair with a fork and took a bite.

“…!”

Simultaneously, her pupils dilated.

She seemed even more astonished than when tasting the mint chip ice cream.

Startled, Lucie quickly regained her composure, but the flush on her face was inevitable.

Witnessing this from across the table, Daniel let out a chuckle.

‘As I’ve felt from the beginning, she’s quite inept at expressing emotions…’

If Lucie had a tail, it would likely be wagging fiercely from side to side.

Entertaining such thoughts, Daniel cut his éclair into bite-sized pieces and popped one into his mouth.

‘Oh.’

Indeed, the éclair was delicious enough to understand Lucie’s reaction.

After finishing their desserts, Lucie emerged from the shop and sent Daniel and Prien ahead.

She claimed to have separate matters to attend to.

Though puzzled, Daniel and Prien nodded, and after confirming their departure, Lucie approached a man leaning against a shop pillar.

The man, wearing a black beanie, turned to face Lucie.

“…What is it?”

“Conducting such conspicuous surveillance is bound to get you noticed. You were loitering nearby five days ago, and now you’ve shown up again.”

At Lucie’s words, the man furrowed his brow.

“What? What nonsense are you…”

“The soaring eagle can never discern the affairs beneath the earth.”

The man’s hand twitched.

It was a coded phrase used within the Union’s intelligence agency.

Realizing Lucie was an operative, the man swallowed dryly.

Staring intently at him, Lucie spoke quietly.

“Follow me discreetly.”

Turning, Lucie walked away.

Unsure of the situation but sensing he had no choice but to obey, the man trailed behind her at a distance.

Lucie proceeded as if heading towards a specific destination, and with each step, the area grew increasingly deserted.

‘Where is she taking me?’

Growing uneasy, the man needlessly bit his lower lip.

Continuing to scan their surroundings, the man eventually arrived at an abandoned construction site.

Not only had the workers left for the day, but there were no civilians residing nearby, leaving the area completely devoid of people.

Perplexed as to why she had guided him here, the man spoke first in an attempt to ease the tension.

“Well, well! I never expected to meet a comrade here, disguised as that bastard’s aide no less. This works out even better. Can you assist me in assassinating Daniel Steiner?”

Lucie let out a low sigh.

“That is not an order from the Union.”

The man fell silent, as she was not wrong.

“My investigation into you is complete. I understand you have a history of acting independently.”

“…So? Have my independent actions ever harmed the Union? Besides, Daniel Steiner is someone who may inflict tremendous damage on the Union in the future. Eliminating him is the right course of action.”

“I will say it again. That is not an order from the Union.”

The man gritted his teeth, deeming her an unreasonable woman.

“Then what? Are you telling me to just stand idly by? Or will you offer some other assistance?”

“You are mistaken. I have come here to eliminate you.”

“…Eliminate?”

Eliminate a comrade? He thought she was spouting nonsense until Lucie turned her body.

Silhouetted by the crescent moon’s backlight, an inexplicable sense of oppression emanated from Lucie’s figure.

“While I cannot provide details, the Union wishes for the Kingdom’s defeat. If you assassinate Daniel Steiner, it would go against the Union’s will.”

“Hold on…”

“Furthermore, my assigned mission is to ‘eliminate any agents who have defected or disobeyed orders.’ Your actions fall under both categories.”

She did not seem to be lying.

Letting out a wry chuckle, the man abruptly drew a pistol from his coat.

Before Lucie could utter a word, the man rapidly pulled the trigger in succession.

Gunshots and muzzle flashes erupted as bullets flew forth.

However, the bullets did not pierce Lucie’s body.

Wooong—

They remained embedded in the blue barrier Lucie had formed, unmoving.

‘She blocked them? In that split second?’

As the man stood dumbfounded, Lucie dissipated the barrier.

With its disappearance, the suspended bullets fell limply to the ground.

“My apologies. I bear no malice.”

Lucie retrieved a revolver from her coat.

Witnessing this, the man cried out amidst the encroaching dread.

“You crazy bitch! Even if it’s a superior’s order, to actually attempt to kill an agent like me…!”

Regrettably, the man’s words were left unfinished.

Bang!

The bullet pierced his skull.

After momentarily swaying, the man collapsed to the ground with a thud.

“…”

Confirming his death, Lucie lowered her revolver.

Then, the moonlight’s reflection became obtrusive, prompting her to turn her head.

There, carelessly discarded, was a gilded full-length mirror.

Lucie glanced at her reflection once.

Her silvery white hair gleamed under the moonlight, her crimson eyes shining.

Quietly observing her appearance, Lucie subconsciously recalled Daniel’s words from earlier.

— Nothing. I was just admiring your beauty today.

…What had he meant by that?

For Lucie, who had never once considered herself beautiful, it was a rather perplexing compliment.

Initially, the only words from men she had heard were screams or curses.

After all, Lucie’s mission from the Union was to execute defectors.

Pondering Daniel’s words, Lucie suddenly looked up at the sky.

‘The Milky Way…’

The profusion of stars indicated the night had grown quite late.

If nothing else, she should return to prepare for work tomorrow.

Dispelling her reverie, Lucie began walking slowly.

In the process, she inadvertently sighed.

Lucie had endured countless incidents and killed numerous people.

Earning the moniker ‘the Crimson-Eyed Reaper,’ she was an object of terror for defectors.

However, even Lucie feared one thing.

‘I don’t want to go to work…’

Regrettably, that one thing was going to work.